ELON MUSK REVEALS TESLA D SUPERCAR, PLUS AUTOPILOT FEATURES

The Tesla "D"
that Elon Musk so provocatively tweeted about last week is
actually an all-wheel-drive version of the Model S Sedan. There
will be three versions, and each will carry the "D" designation,
to distinguish them from the rear-wheel-drive Model S.

AWD will be a plus for Tesla's customers in the Northeast and in
Northern Europe, to deal with bad weather.

The current performance version of the Model S — the P85 — will
become the P85D and be capable of 0-60 mph in a blistering 3.2
seconds. That acceleration is right up there with supercars from
Ferrari, Porsche, and Mercedes.

In addition to the "D" — and to be truthful, many Tesla observers
speculated it was going to be all-wheel-drive — Tesla is
introducing a cluster of driver-assist features. These include
things like the car being able to read speed-limit signs and
adjust its velocity, signals that make the car change lanes, and
some familiar stuff, like lane-departure warnings.

Overall, nothing mind-blowing.

Commenting on the "D," Kelley Blue Book senior analyst Karl
Brauer said the features would "allow Tesla to keep pace
with competing luxury makes while still banking on its primary
advantage — a pure electric drivetrain. Until the Model X
arrives, these upgrades should keep the Model S at the forefront
of advanced personal transportation.”

Some photos from the event:

The D has dual motors —
one for each set of wheels.Kevork
Djansezian/Getty Images

It will do 0-60 in 3.2
seconds.Kevork Djansezian/Getty
Images

The new Tesla instrument
panel, now with autopilot features.Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Everybody loved the robot
arm.Kevork Djansezian/Getty
Images

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

The robot arm was an
amazing pierce of showmanship.Kevork
Djansezian/Getty Images

News Leak?

At USA Today, Chris Woodyard is reporting, ahead of the offical Elon Musk reveal, that the "D" is a very fast version of the Tesla Model S sedan, with all-wheel-drive. Other new information: Tesla will offer a "suite of driver aid and safety features." Evidently, Tesla's will be able to "read" speed limit signs and adjust speed accordingly!

If Woodyard is right — and he has quotes from Elon Musk, so it looks like he had an inside track — then "D" will disappoint those who were expecting a almost fully autonomous self-driving Tesla.

Waiting for Elon

Details on the "D"

According to USA Today, the "D" will be a Model S sedan that has marginally increased range, dual motors (as expected, one for each pair of wheels) to supply all-wheel-drive. There will be three versions, each with a different size battery. The AWD performance version of the Model S — the PS85D — will be able to do 0-60 in just over 3 seconds. That's blistering.

The "something else" that Musk tweeted about last week is a cluster of safety and advanced cruise control features. Teslas will now be able to "read" the speed on speed-limit signs and adjust themselves. They will also have a lane-departure-warning system. Turn signals will be able to move the car over one lane.